Thomas Blondis

Thomas A. Blondis, MD (retired) was born August 9, 1948 in Joliet, Illinois to Ernest R. Blondis, MD and Mary Claire Blondis (nee Steffen).  He was the fifth of eight siblings, the late Mary Stephanie Bower (late Rodney); the late Sara Alice Roignant (Germain); the late Ernest R. Blondis, Jr (the late Linda Jones); Robert Henry Blondis (Rita Richards) of Milwaukee, WI; Margaret Anne Blondis (Bob Krzeminski) of Chicago, IL; Rose Claire Barnish (nee Blondis) of Elmhurst, IL; and John Edmund Blondis deceased (Cheryl Dickerson) of Elk Grove, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children. Tom is survived by his wife Alba Louise Blondis (nee Bottino), and a daughter Claire Margaret Blondis both of Santa Fe.  A son, Charles Ernest Blondis is deceased.  Dr. Blondis received his medical degree from the Universidad Autonoma de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.  He trained in pediatrics at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO and continued his training through a fellowship in the Kennedy Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.  Dr. Blondis spent the ensuing years at the University of Chicago Hospitals in Developmental Pediatrics.  He was instrumental in the expansion of the Woodlawn Early Intervention Center for developmentally impacted children at the University of Chicago, where he worked with Michelle Obama who created the Community Service Center for the University.  Dr. Blondis dedicated his career to the support of children’s early development, and to intervention in learning problems during their education.  A former president of the Kennedy Fellows Association at Johns Hopkins, he worked alongside colleagues to establish a boarded specialty in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.  During his career he wrote articles on developmental disabilities and edited and wrote chapters for a textbook for medical students and resident physicians. Dr. Blondis trained many young students and residents during his teaching and clinical career. Tom, as an undergraduate, attended the College of Santa Fe and graduated with a degree in English.  While attending college here, he fell in love with the city and culture of Santa Fe and committed to returning during his retirement years.  He realized his dream in 2012 when he, his wife and daughter moved permanently to Santa Fe.  A memorial service, followed by a light lunch, will be held at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 550 W. San Mateo, on July 8, 2023 at 10:30 am.  The service will be live streamed on YouTube at the following link: Livestream and Recording Tom Blondis July 8, 2023 10:30AM.  A burial service, followed by a luncheon, will be held in Homewood, IL, September 23, 2023.  Any memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org or mailed to 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, in his honor.